The Woden Hotel

We won’t stay again. It wasn’t a relaxing visit, and finding reception was a nightmare because it’s off the main street. We were told to stop in a street spot while walking up to check in, but it was only for pickup and drop-off, so we could have been fined. We were given a key for “bay 1,” but there was no bay 1 in the car park. By luck, we found a space marked “c5/c6” and designated for disabled parking. The room itself was okay, but two coffee bags and four sugar sticks weren’t enough for two people for two days. Luckily, there’s a Woolies nearby. Reception is open only from 9 to 5, then you have to call 1800#.

For under $120 when I wrote this in Dec 2025, it was really good value. The room was clean and comfortable, and because we arrived late, reception left our keys outside with a code. You can skip the $25 parking charge by using the lot near the ice skating rink. It’s free overnight, then costs $2 an hour or $15 for the day from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. The EasyPark app lets you pay for only the time you need.

The room was clean and spacious, with nothing negative to say about it. Reception was a different story. The website and confirmation email both said it opened at 8:00, but staff came and went around the desk and foyer without acknowledging us or offering help. We were left waiting and cold-shouldered until someone finally appeared at the desk sometime between 9:15 and 9:30. We were very disappointed and frustrated by the service.

The rooms were reasonably clean and the building is new, with a decent location, but that doesn’t make up for how badly this was handled. My first stay with Abode will be my last, and I’d recommend avoiding this place if you care about honest, clear information and basic service. We checked in to find no parking spaces left, despite parking being advertised. I asked Angelica at the front desk to move us to another Abode or refund us. She refused and told me to cancel my non-refundable booking, which wasn’t a workable option. Her alternative was a Narrabundah property with broken air-conditioning, where they offered a portable heater as the fix. We had to park on the street. Later, Angelica said a guest had cancelled and a space had become available, so we took it. The next morning, another staff member, whose name sounded like Faisal, demanded $25 per night for parking. Angelica hadn’t mentioned a fee, and I couldn’t find any notice that parking cost extra on the Abode website or Agoda, where I booked. It felt like a deliberate scam, advertising available parking and springing a hidden charge after check-in. At Mercure, Mantra and Sebel, where I’ve stayed, parking fees were disclosed upfront. Abode misleads guests.